NORTH COAST RIVERS

North Coast streams and rivers are regulated by low flow closures. Always call ahead to determine the condition of the river you want to fish. If not mentioned, the river is closed or no reports. The DFG’s Low Flow Closure Hotline for north coast rivers is (707) 822-3164. For the Russian River and counties of Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin, call (707) 944-5533. South Central Coast streams number is (831) 649-2886. Many streams close, and others change to artificial/barbless only on, March 31 and others on April 25. Trouble identifying salmon or steelhead? Go to: http://www.swr.noaa.gov/fmd/identify.htm.

COOS RIVER; Coos Bay, Ore.–Labor Day weekend was the beginning of excellent fishing around Marshfield Channel upriver to Catchem Slough, according to WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. “For a few weeks now, sports fans have been wondering where the Chinook salmon had disappeared too. Now it almost seems these salmon dropped out of the sky in huge numbers just in time for the long weekend. I am one of the many anglers that feel 90-percent of all the salmon are going to travel up the south bank of the river. Trolling with or without a flasher is up to the angler, but I almost always use a flasher. Plug cut herring with a drill bit spin is what gets me most of my strikes and the bigger bait equals the bigger salmon.”

COQUILLE RIVER; Bandon, Ore.-Fishing is steady for Chinooks and the middle of September will have us harvesting Coho as well, said guide Curtis Palmer. “High tide slack has been the best bite of the day over the last week. Rocky Point area upriver to the Lawyer Hole has been the most popular. This river is stained from minerals, so using flashers to grab those attracting flashes of light is a good idea. This is another river where plug cutting Herring works better than other techniques. Fishing will continue through the month of September.”

ROGUE RIVER, Lower, Ore.-Kings are moving into the estuary and straight up the river with the cooler flows, and anglers are following them up the river and finding good action, still. Trolling the Bay works, but not as well as year’s passed where they get corked up in the Bay by warm river flows. Both guides Bill Divens of Salmonkinglodge.com and WON Field Reporter and guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets confirm that the action is good on big kings, and that the estuary will be the place to fish if the river flows continue to warm. Some silvers showing in the Bay, and only hatchery, fin-clipped coho may be kept.

ROGUE RIVER, Grant’s Pass-According to local angler and WON contact, Greg Glossop, there was a big push of kings and then it slowed down for the bank fishermen… boat fishermen are still doing fairly well running Kwikfish and backbouncing roe. As of Sept 1st, they’re dropping the flow out of lost creek 100 cfs a day until it matches the inflows. Steelhead fishing continues to be good on the upper stretches… also remember most of the upper rogue is restricted to fly only, which means you can use any type of rod and reel but for spin and baitcaster, you would have to use float and fly with no additional weight.

RUSSIAN RIVER-Same-o, same-o….smallmouth available early and late before water activity, but it might even work during the day now that Labor Day is over and the activity level subsides.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Douglas City-Fishing for spring run Chinook salmon was a challenge once again, last week, with almost all of the action occurring very early in the morning and a higher percentage of darker fish showing up. Fresh salmon and steelhead were moving into the lower river on colder water, but hadn’t arrived in the upper reaches of the river by the weekend. Flows were back down to 450 cfs.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek-Fall run Chinook salmon and steelhead were making a big move into the lower end of the Trinity spurred by lower water temperatures and temporary higher flows.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam-No salmon have shown up yet, but nice trout and steelhead continued to be caught on nightcrawlers, back-trolled Hot Shots and streamers swung on fly rods.

KLAMATH RIVER, Klamath Glen-Fishing on the lower end of the Klamath River continued to be excellent and virtually everyone is catching fish, even bank fishermen. More and more larger adult salmon are showing, but the majority of fish are still jacks and adults to 10 or 12 pounds.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

AMERICAN RIVER-Flows were dropped to 1,000 cfs to install the screens at Nimbus Hatchery, and it took a few days after a return to pre-drop flows of 4,000 cfs before the bite turned back on. However, anglers started catching some nice striped bass again on everything from big streamers to chicken livers. A hungry striped bass is not too choosy. Salmon fishing improved a bit, and anglers fishing from Rossmoor Bar to Nimbus Basin were catching a few on Kwikfish (from boats), roe, spinners and beads. An occasional small steelhead is being hooked by anglers trying for other species.

FEATHER RIVER-Flows were approaching 70 degrees and salmon fishing continued to be slow all week. However Craig Bentley of Huntington Sportsman Store said that releases are now coming from the bottom of the lake through the powerhouse at Oroville Dam instead of over the spillway, bringing water temperatures down several degrees. Hopefully that will improve salmon fishing, which continued to be slow. Meanwhile, some fly fishermen were doing well on steelhead in the Low Flow Section on nymphs and egg patterns.

FOLSOM LAKE-Bass continued to be reluctant to bite for the most part with anglers working hard to get a few bites dartheading and drop-shotting plastic worms either in lighter smelt or darker crawdad-imitating patterns. The key is to use electronics to find concentrations of bait through and over structure.

MCCLOUD RIVER– The upper McCloud above the lake continued to see lots of pressure but continued to produce fish. Smaller trout were being caught on nymphs on the Lower McCloud.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento-Salmon fishing was rated an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale by Yee Vang of Broadway Bait Rod and Gun. That’s pretty darn good. Fish are being caught from Freeport through Sacramento, and some are even being caught from shore on big spinners. The key, of course is to put in your hours. Interestingly, fishing mid-day seems to be as good or better than being on the water very early.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Red Bluff-Salmon fishing seemed to be somewhat slower mid-river around Ord Bend than farther up or downstream because of heavy boat traffic and warm water, but action picked up again big time around Hamilton City, and limits of bright kings have been common. Some larger fish weighing over 30 pounds are becoming more numerous, as well.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding-Trout fishing continued to be good, and rainbows from 12 inches to 3 pounds were being caught on drifted Glo-Bugs and nightcrawlers, as well as dead drifting caddis and Mayfly imitating nymphs under floats on the long rod.

UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER-Fishing has continued to be outstanding with the Dunsmuir area of the Sac producing good numbers of 12 to 15 inchers plus fish to 10 pounds. Some nice native rainbows to 21 inches were being caught below Gibson on nymphs dead-drifted under indicators. These are native trout coming out of Lake Shasta.

YUBA RIVER-Trout fishing on the Yuba River continued to be very good, with anglers scoring on caddis and Mayfly nymphs under indicators, as well as dry flies.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE-The lake is at 94-percent capacity. The fishing was best along the west side on the points and in the coves for shore anglers using Power Bait in the early morning. After the recreational boaters and watercrafters get going, the bite shuts off.

CAPLES LAKE-The lake is at 98-percent capacity. The lake was planted by the DFG this past week, so fishing was much improved for anglers at the dam, spillway, and Wood’s Creek inlet.

CARSON RIVER (East, West)-The East Fork, West Fork, Markleeville Creek, and Silver Creek are all scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. Alpine County planted 1800 pounds of 3-pound average rainbows this past Thursday and is scheduled to plant another 1800 pounds late this week. Fishing has been incredible with many huge fish checked in at the Carson River Resort. Donald Lockhart topped the week’s catches with a 10 1/4-pound rainbow taken on a Panther Martin, followed closely by Al Martin’s 10-pound, 3-ounce lunker. Jerry Frizbel must have checked in with a personal best when he weighed a limit that included 8-pound, 15-ounce and 8 1/4-pound rainbows. Limits are quick and easy for everyone. The West Carson is running lower than the East and fly fishermen are getting in on the action using hopper/droppers and ants.

DAVIS LAKE-The lake is at 81-percent capacity. The bite slowed due to the heat, according to Ed Dillard at Dillard’s Guided Fishing. His last trip only produced 5 fish landed with 4 more lost trolling copper/red Wee Dick Nite spoons 18 feet deep from the dam to the island. Also try from Honker to the dam where floating weeds have been less of a problem.

DONNER LAKE-The lake is at 95-percent capacity. Fishing was fair at best this past week. Some rainbows were still being caught off the docks on the west end. Trollers were still picking up a few kokanee in 80 to 100 feet of water near the bottom, but be prepared to try everything in the tackle box. Some 3- to 5-pound macks have been caught incidental to the kokanee trolling, according to Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware and Sports.

FEATHER RIVER CANYON-The North Fork above Hwy 70 is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Mike Hanson at Caribou Crossroads Resort reported that fishing was slow, but that some nice native trout were being caught below the Caribou Powerhouse dam. Most of the natives are 12 to 14 inches, but Dylan O’Rear of Concow landed a 4 pounder on worms.

FRENCHMAN LAKE-The lake is at 85-percent capacity. Terri Stancil at Wiggins Trading Post reported good action for both trollers and shore anglers. The shore anglers did best at the dam and either side from the dam on garlic marshmallows and Power Bait for rainbows running 16 to 18 inches. Trollers did best running Dick Nite and Needlefish spoons at 20 to 40 feet deep at Spring Creek, Big Cove and at the north end of the lake. The catfishing and crawdad trapping has been very good on the north end. The cats run 14 inches and are great eating. The area creeks were kicking out lots of nice brown trout for fly fishermen.

GOLD LAKES BASIN-Lower Sardine Lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The whole area was planted two weeks ago and fishing was still good, according to Jon Rose at Bassetts Station. Shore fishing with worms has been the most productive at Upper Salmon, Lower Sardine, Packer and Gold.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 76-percent capacity. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle Guide Service reported that the fishing was slow based on the few reports that he heard. He suggested using a Wild Thing dodger/worm combo 15 to 30 feet deep up near the inlet where the cooler water was running into the lake. Fishing should improve dramatically as the water cools with the coming of fall.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR-Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that fly fishermen were picking up lots of planter rainbows on dry flies in the evening. Shore fishermen were scoring in the early morning with nightcrawlers and Power Bait.

JACKSON MEADOW RESERVOIR-The lake was planted two weeks ago and fishing was reported to still be good, according to Mountain Hardware and Sports in Truckee. Shore fishing off the dam was the most productive for anglers using worms, Power Bait, or throwing a Kastmaster.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)-Heavy Labor Day weekend recreational boat traffic mucked up the lake and slowed the fishing. Earlier in the week, shore anglers did well using Power Bait at the first dam near deeper water.

LAKE TAHOE-Fishing was tough on the north end for one charter operator over the weekend with all the boat traffic. Mike Nielsen at Tahoe Top Liners did well on all his trips this past week catching good numbers of macks and kokanee. The macks were hitting Rapalas and Krocodile spoons from 85 to 240 feet deep. The kokanee were located from the top to 50 feet deep and were taken on flasher/Apex combos. Nielsen was losing as many kokes as he landed-soft bite!!

LOON LAKE-The lake is at 71-percent capacity. Trollers were still catching easy limits of rainbows on dodger/worm or grub combos from the top to 25 feet deep on the main body of the lake, according to Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle and Guide Service.

PROSSER LAKE-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. Fish the inlet and the dam in the early morning before sunrise for the best results. After the sun gets up, fish at the dam to stay in deeper water. The point between Alder Creek and Prosser Creek around from the boat ramp has been good for trollers working the ledge. Shore fishermen can do well here if they can cast far enough out to reach the deeper water.

PYRAMID LAKE-Look for big schools of tui chubs and find bigger schools of cutthroats willing to hit a 1/4-ounce white/red marabou jig, according to Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters. His trips have been producing over 100 2- to 4-pound cutthroats on light spinning gear, all catch-and-release.

RED LAKE-Not much happening here according to the last available reports, mostly due to a huge algae influx.

SILVER LAKE-The lake is at 87-percent capacity. The lake received a DFG plant this past week. Trolling was very good for boaters working the shoreline all the way around the lake with a dodger/worm or grub for rainbows running 13 to 14 inches.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 92-percent capacity and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Most trollers have stopped fishing for the kokanee because they’re covered with copepods. Rainbow trout action has been good with the DFG plants for shore anglers fishing the coves from the ramp toward the dam. With the high water level, anglers need to be aware of the brush and debris piles in shallow water that can cause a big problem while fighting a fish.

TOPAZ LAKE-Hot weather and very heavy recreational boat traffic shut down the fishing. Wait until it starts to cool off and the recreational boat traffic slows down before expecting much here.

TRUCKEE RIVER-Flows were down and the fly fishing was good according to Mountain Hardware and Sports and Tahoe Fly fishing Outfitters. Both sources recommended nymphing with stone and caddis patterns. Brian Nylund at Mountain Hardware said the crawfish pattern action was good early and late for big fish. Dropper rigs with a big stone trailing a small caddis were producing. The flows in the Little Truckee are low and fishing has become very technical-bring your A-Game and a box of micro patterns in sizes 16 through 22.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR-The lake is at 79-percent capacity. Kyle Neeser at Crystal Basin Tackle reported that limits of 13- to 15-inch kokanee were still hitting Wee Tads and Hoochie Things behind watermelon Wild Things, 50 to 70 feet deep at the dam. The kokes are starting to turn-losing scales and developing hooked jaws-in preparation for the spawn. Ken Mathis at Ken’s Custom Tackle and Guide Service said it was time to begin searching for trophy macks running dodger/herring combos and Double Flutter spoons on top of the ledges 70 to 100 feet deep.

WEST WALKER RIVER- The West Walker was flowing at 190 cfs-perfect for fly fishing. The Little Walker and West Walker are both scheduled for DFG trout plants this week. Mono County planted 160 pounds of 3-pound Alpers and 260 pounds of 1- to 1 1/2-pound Alpers this past week and the North Mono Chamber of Commerce will make a 500-pound plant of 4-pound average rainbows next week. Fishing has been “fantastic” with fly and lure casters catching-and-releasing 50 fish per day. Anyone wanting a limit to take home has been catching quick limits on just about anything you care to use-bait, lures, or flies.

WOODS LAKE-Lake was heavily used over the holiday weekend, but Jeff Wall of Placerville fished it with a friend from float tubes and found very good fishing. It was mostly planter rainbows, and lots of them, but he hooked and lost a pair of 15-inch brookies by working the inlet area from a beach alongside it.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE- Tourney season is about to pick up again so, the lake will be crowded for the next several weekends. Successful anglers have been catching fish on reaction baits ranging from swimbaits to ripbaits and drop-shot plastics to Carolina rigged plastics. Fish are being caught deep still, 15 to 25 feet in the deeper parts of the lake and in the tules around the shallower portion of the lake.

LAKE BERRYESSA-Anglers have about three more weeks to get in on the koke action here as the season winds down. Bigger dodgers this time of year will help your catch rate a lot. Use RMT 5.5-inch dodgers and 3/0 Sep’s dodgers with short leaders on your spinners, squids and 16- to 18-inch leaders on your Apex spoons. Saturday, Oct. 15, Casting For Kids will hold their annual kids fishing event for youth 5 to 16 years old. There will be an awards ceremony, a barbecue and prizes. It begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. out of Pleasure Cove Marina. Boaters are needed to volunteer for this event. If interested contact Jason at 707.966.2111, ext. 143 or send an email to jgjordan@usbr.gov.

LAKE SONOMA–Monster Fishing Tackle Pro Staffer Scott Green said the lake is fishing well for largemouth bass with good numbers of 1 1/2- to 3 1/2-lb. bass being caught early with Sammy 128s around main and secondary points with some grass. When the sun comes up, grab some Senkos and fish standing timber in 10 to 20 feet of water. The cooler nights have started to get these bass in a feeding mode. Cherry, Yorty and Dry creeks have been productive areas. The lake traffic is down with school starting so after Labor Day should be quiet. Catfishing has been very good in some of the creek channels with mackerel, anchovies and nightcrawlers your best bet.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR- The east shore has been one of the best places to troll, bait fish, or jig as the crowds disappear and the bite picks up. A white Gitzit jig has been the hot ticket recently near the Snag for mostly browns up to 4 pounds. Flashers and dodgers with threaded nightcrawlers have been good one day and off the next, same with Speedy shiners and Needlefish so be prepared with them all.

BATTLE CREEK RESERVOIR- Pressure was a bit heavier for Labor Day weekend but still light in general. Fishing has been a bit tough but the dam area and rocky points do the best. Worms and Power Bait are the most productive right now. Fly fishermen have been doing okay. The latest report is that damsel nymphs continue to work well as do buggers under intermediate sinking line.

BAUM LAKE- Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reports fishing here is still good with PMD’s and callibaetis doing the job for trout. Nightcrawlers and Power Baits are also doing well, as are two-toned Kastmasters. Vaughn’s nymphs of choice have been copper Johns in red or pt’s.

BRITTON LAKE-According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods, the crappie bite is still going strong with some nice stringers reported. Crappie jigs or mealworms worked best around structure. The smallmouth bass also continue to bite.

BURNEY CREEK–Vaughn’s Sporting Goods reports good nymphing continues at the base of the falls with green copper Johns. Bait and lure fishermen are still catching trout above the falls.

CASSEL FOREBAY-Rim Rock Ranch reports fishing in the forebay continues to be hot and with some larger broodstock plants, the fishing has been outstanding. Power bait and eggs continue to be the baits of choice, but lures do well here as well. Fly fishing is very good right now, especially in the late evenings. Adams, mosquitoes, and callibaetis patterns are all working well.

FALL RIVER-According to Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney, anglers have been mainly nymphing, but there has been some dry activity, especially with the sun. There has also been some good dry fly action on PMD’s and a few tricos starting to show.

IRON CANYON RESERVOIR-According to The Fly Shop, the fly fishing should be good here, even though they have not had a report in a few weeks. Use a boat, float tube or pontoon boat to get out. Insect hatches of Callibaetis and midges should continue for the next couple weeks.

UPPER HAT CREEK-Rim Rock Ranch reports the fishing continues to be excellent since DFG outdid themselves planting five times prior to Labor Day weekend. There are lots of fish in Upper Hat Creek and the catching couldn’t get much better. Both large brookies and rainbows came in all week. Most fish are 12 to 14 inches but quite a few are in the 18- 22-inch range as well. Pressure for Labor Day was heavy as expected but the remainder of the year should be fairly moderate even though this is probably the best month of the year to fish Hat Creek. Worms and salmon eggs just can’t be beat for catching these spunky Eagle Lake trout. Fly fishermen have been doing well on buggers and copper Johns; keep it deep to do better.

HAT CREEK (wild trout section)-Vaughn’s Sporting Goods in Burney reported nymphing was still okay on the stretch just below the Powerhouse. There were also good results with pt’s and copper Johns. Callibaetis cripples were working, along with a few PMD’s picking up fish.

KESWICK RESERVOIR-The Fly Shop said the reports out of Keswick have been slow, but their guess was that it’s fishing well, as it usually does at this time of year. A motorized boat is needed to reach the fish here. Flows out of Shasta have been stable and that creates good fishing conditions here.

MANZANITA LAKE–Rim Rock Ranch said fishing in the evening has been off this year, especially with all of the kayak activity in the afternoon. Mornings are best with callibaetis cripples, zebra midges and birds nest patterns picking up fish. Remember to check the special regulations on this catch and release lake.

McCLOUD RIVER-Reports from The Fly Shop are that fishing is great, with light crowds but hot; it’s a good time to be fishing here. The best dry fly fishing seems to be around 10:00 a.m. and then again close to sunset. Indicator nymphing with Mercer’s brown or black micro mayflies in no. 16 has been working well.

PIT RIVER-Water color is good and the fishing has been fair to good. Expect to contend with higher, faster water. Anglers fishing heavy SSG splitshot under large indicators are doing best. Beginning in September, there is more roadwork and improvements along the Pit River again. Road closures of two plus hours are possible between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

SHASTA LAKE-Mike Elster reports that with cooler temperatures, the bait along with the fish will be moving closer to the surface, especially early in the morning. He recommends starting out in depths of 10 to 40 feet for trout and dropping down 15 to 20 feet as the day gets warmer. Digger Bay, the shoreline west of Bridge Bay Resort and up the McCloud out in front of Holiday Harbor are good areas for trout. The kings will be deeper, cover depths from 80 to 110 feet. From the surface to 40 has scattered baitfish everywhere so start with your electronics to find trout, salmon or bass. Bass are starting to move up on first and secondary points up in the creek arms and coves as we begin to move into a fall pattern.

TRINITY LAKE–Apexs and white Wiggle Hoochies trolled on downriggers between 40 to 65 feet has been providing limits of kokes in areas where fresh water comes in such as Stewards Point.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER-River still flowing low and clear. The Middle Fork near Georgetown was producing some nice rainbows and browns for anglers willing to make the effort to hike down to the deeper pools and use worms and spinners.

BULLARDS BAR-The lake is at 75-percent capacity. The lake was overrun by the recreational boating crowd for the Labor Day holiday and fishermen were far and few between-wait until the water begins to cool off and the crowds diminish.

CAMP FAR WEST-The lake is dropping rapidly-down to around 60-percent capacity. The holiday weekend brought out the recreational boaters and fishing was slow. One angler reported picking up a few small bass. Some catfish were being caught at night on sardines and chicken livers-there was rumor of an 8 pounder landed this past week.

COLLINS LAKE-Fishing was slow, but steady this past week. Shore anglers and trollers all scored on trout, bass, catfish, and panfish. The dam and the docks produced the best action for the shore anglers, while trollers worked the channel up near the bridge at 25 to 35 feet deep. Cris Pesut of Fresno landed 5 trout and 2 bass trolling wobblers near the bridge. Lou Rubero caught a 4 1/4-pound bass on a frog in Elmer’s Cove. Lots of bluegill and redear sunfish were being caught off the rental dock on worms. Getting too hot for the trout to be very shallow, so get out early in the morning while the water is at its coolest.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR-The lake is at 91-percent capacity. Houseboaters have been catching some nice holdover rainbows, up to 20 inches, on worms while tied up at Boston Bar and Buck’s Beach in the early morning. Once the recreational boats start buzzing these areas, the bite shuts off.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake is at 71-percent capacity. Fishing was good for planter rainbows from shore and trolling. Crawdad trappers have been catching lots of big bugs for a good old fashion shellfish boil!!

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR-The lake is at 86-percent capacity. According to Will Fish Tackle in Auburn, brown trout and mack action was good for boaters. Topline ripping an F-7 black/silver Rapala at the inlet has been producing some nice browns. Macks have been hitting flasher/nightcrawler combos and jigged 2-ounce Gibbs Minnows at 70 to 90 feet deep at the dam.

LAKE OROVILLE-The lake is at 93-percent capacity. Bruce Gibson at the Paradise Tackle Company reported good action in the West Branch and the ‘slot’ on jigs and topwater for bass up to 3 1/2 pounds. Fish Spooks on the points before the sun hits the water-after the sun is up, forget it!! Brown/green pumpkin/blue Paradise Tackle finesse jigs in 1/4- and 5/16- ounce with a 6-inch Roboworm trailer were working best for guide Ron Gandolfi on main points and short coves loaded with floating debris for spots running 2 to 3 1/2 pounds. The catfish bite has been good in the evenings at Spring Valley, Dark Canyon and Railroad Cove on crawdads-reports of fish from 8 to 15 pounds and lots of 3 to 5 pounders were coming in. Coho salmon fishermen that Gibson talked to said the trolling was very slow.

ROLLINS LAKE-Heavy recreational boat traffic over the holiday weekend slowed any fishing action, but some trout were reportedly taken at the dam and the Bear River inlet on bait.

SCOTT’S FLAT LAKE-There’s not much happening here other than a few rainbow trout being caught at the dam and the inlet. Heavy recreational boat traffic over the Labor Day weekend overwhelmed any fisherman who was out past mid-morning.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR-Planted rainbows were hitting nightcrawlers and Power Bait for shore anglers, according to Will Fish Tackle in Auburn.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR-The lake received an unannounced DFG trout plant this past week and fishing was good for shore anglers and trollers, according to the Georgetown Ranger Station. Fishing is best early in the morning or late afternoon.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY-The lake is at 73-percent capacity. Bruce Gibson at the Paradise Tackle Company reported good action for bass on topwater in the early morning along the tule banks. After the sun was up, the bite switched over to jigs and Senkos. The fish hitting in the shallows in front of the tules were averaging 1 1/2 pounds. Bigger bass were being found off the points and on the outside edge of the rip-rap banks-fish running 3 to 6 pounds. The best bite for the outside fish came on a Paradise Tackle brown/purple jig. In the late afternoon, the frog bite was turning on.

NORTH SALTWATER

BERKELEY-Better tides helped out the halibut counts, but the big numbers were still on the rockfish trips up the Marin Coast and out to the Farallon Islands. On board the California Dawn, Captain James Smith ran another big shark trip, finding cow sharks to 250 pounds at Yellow Bluff. On the Happy Hooker, sub skipper Bob Wright fished Friday in the bay for halibut and striped bass, and Saturday at the Farallon Islands for rockfish limits and good lingcod counts.

BODEGA BAY- Salmon action remained hit and miss, with some anglers timing the bite right and scoring limits (small loads and private boats), while others struggle to hook a keeper king. Bottomfishing was great with limits the rule. On the New Sea Angler, Captain Rick Powers reported .

EMERYVILLE-Another week of great late summer variety with rockfish, lingcod, halibut, striped bass and salmon boated. The salmon trips were up and down, with fish to 25 pounds boated. High per rod score was on the Sundance on Saturday, when six anglers caught 10 kings. The New Seeker had one around for 12 anglers on Friday. The sure thing remained rockfish and lingcod, with rockfish limits the rule and up to 18 lings per trip. The halibut numbers have been down, mostly because the potluck trips are fishing outside for the bottomfish, then make a try on the way home for the flatties. “When the outside weather is bad, the boats stay in and fish the bay, and the halibut and rockfish numbers are higher,” said Frank Salazar at Emeryville Sportfishing.

EUREKA-Weather was an issue on the weekend, but a couple of the six-pack boats tried and found some salmon action. If it hadn’t been for early returns due to rough seas, they felt limits would have been the result. The salmon season ended Sept. 5, but bottomfishing and Pacific halibut seasons remain open.

FORT BRAGG-Still some salmon around, with the Telstar scoring 6 kings for 10 anglers on a recent trip, then 3 kings on Saturday, then 5 for eight anglers on Sunday. “There are fish being caught pretty much everywhere from the Noyo River to Ten Mile River from 50 feet of water to 250 feet of water,” said Captain Randy Thornton. Some of the boats tried for albacore.

HALF MOON BAY-Captain Bob Ingles on the Queen Of Hearts fished up north for salmon and found the new big bite on the way home off of Pedro Point, where he caught 11 fish. Otherwise, rockfish and lingcod are the hot bite on the local reefs, with limits the rule, and good numbers of bonus lings from Pescadero, San Gregorio, and Martins Beach.

LOCH LOMOND-Captain Jim Cox of Jim Cox Sportfishing has been trolling for salmon at California City with about a half fish per rod average. Next up for him is the fall striped bass run.

POINT SAN PABLO-Striped bass limits tapered with the tides for anglers on the Fury, but Captain Frank Miller switched gears and headed outside the gate on Sunday to find one around on halibut, topped by a 12 pounder.

SAN FRANCISCO-Captain Jacky Douglas on the Wacky Jacky sleuthed out the latest salmon hot spot off of Mussel Rock thanks to a tip from Captain Bob Ingles on the Queen Of Hearts, and on Sunday, the Wacky Jacky had early limits of kings topped by a 20 pounder. Big fish of the week hit for Daniel Yee of Pleasant Hill who fished on the Lovely Martha at Stinson Beach.

SAUSALITO-Captain Roger Thomas on the Salty Lady was in on a hot bite south of the Golden Gate, finding 14 limits of salmon to 20 pounds on Sunday. Before the fleet moved south, anglers caught a 33 pounder on the Blue Runner at Duxbury, and the Salty Lady had two over 30 pounds.

SHELTER COVE-The weather bumped up a bit again, but when the ocean is polite, the bottomfishing has been top bet. Limits of rockfish and lingcod are the rule. Pacific halibut are another option up the coast. Salmon has been slow. No more big tuna hits lately.